Thursday, September 22, 2016

the winds and the waves don't believe me

mark this: Psalm 107:29 --He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.

We hear the word sovereign a lot. Kings, throughout history, have claimed to be sovereign. Closer to home, Indian tribes dispute taxation by claiming to be sovereign.

To be sovereign means to be in charge, in command, in control. Ultimately, there is only one Sovereign. We meet him here today:He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.

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Scholars search the scriptures, trying to ascertain when and where Jesus said he is God. Their questions limit them, because it isn't a matter of When? And it isn't a matter of Where? The question should be How?--

How did Jesus pronounce and confirm that he is God? He did it by demonstrating his ultimate sovereignty over creation:Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!" (Matthew 8:23-27)

The disciples knew from scripture that God could calm the seas by his word alone. We read it today in Psalm 107:24-30.

Likewise, Psalm 65:7 refers to God as the one who stilled the roaring of the the seas, the roaring of their waves. God's sovereign power over the seas is also displayed in Psalm 89:9; Psalm 104:7; and Psalm 106:9.

Waters flow and cease to flow at God's command. Thus the disciples understood that Jesus must be the Creator, God. Their newfound understanding of Jesus became the unified testimony of the New Testament:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:1-3)

For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:16-17)

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. (Hebrews 1:1-3)

"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." (Revelation 4:11)

There were times when Jesus verbally declared that he is God (1). But better than that are the numerous times when Jesus demonstrates that he is God (2).

Because even I can say that I am God. But the winds and the waves don't believe me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(1) John 10:30-10:33; John 8:58; (2) an intentional demonstration of Jesus' deity is seen in Mark 2:6-12